Compact fiber distribution hub

Abstract

A device may provide a first opening via which a feeder optical fiber cable that carries an input signal enters the device. In addition, the device may include a slot configured to retain a splitter module. The splitter module may include a single-fiber input cable that receives and carries the input signal from the feeder optical fiber cable, an optical splitter that receives the input signal from the single-fiber input cable, splits the input signal into a plurality of output signals, and transmits each of the plurality of output signals, and a multi-fiber output cable that receives the plurality of output signals from the optical splitter and carries the plurality of output signals. The device may also provide a second opening via which a multi-fiber distribution cable that receives the plurality of output signals from the multi-fiber output cable exits the device. The multi-fiber distribution cable may carry the plurality of output signals.

1 . A device comprising:
 a first opening via which a feeder optical fiber cable that carries an input signal enters the device;   a slot configured to retain a splitter module, the splitter module including:
 a single-fiber input cable that receives and carries the input signal from the feeder optical fiber cable, 
 an optical splitter that receives the input signal from the single-fiber input cable, splits the input signal into a plurality of output signals, and transmits each of the plurality of output signals, and 
 a multi-fiber output cable that receives the plurality of output signals from the optical splitter and carries the plurality of output signals; and 
   a second opening via which a multi-fiber distribution cable that receives the plurality of output signals from the multi-fiber output cable exits the device, the multi-fiber distribution cable carrying the plurality of output signals.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adaptor that mates the multi-fiber output cable to the multi-fiber distribution cable to form optical pathways from the multi-fiber output cable to the multi-fiber distribution cable.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 one or more panels that include adaptor matrices, one panel of the one or more panels including an adaptor matrix that includes the adaptor.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more panels comprises three panels, and wherein at least one of the three panels includes 18 or fewer adaptor slots. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 components that guide the multi-fiber output cable from the optical splitter to the adaptor without bends that will damage one or more optical fibers in the multi-fiber output cable or degrade optical signals in the multi-fiber output cable.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the adaptor includes one of:
 a plug adaptor array; or   a single plug adaptor.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first mechanical transfer-angle polished connector that is attached to an end of the multi-fiber output cable;   a second mechanical transfer-angle polished connector that is attached to an end of the multi-fiber distribution cable; and   an adaptor that couples the first mechanical transfer-angle polished connector to the second mechanical transfer-angle polished connector to form optical pathways from the multi-fiber output cable to the multi-fiber distribution cable.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the first mechanical transfer-angle polished connector includes one of a 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, or 36-fiber mechanical transfer-angle polished connector. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first subscriber connector-angle polished connector that is attached an end of the feeder optical fiber cable;   a second subscriber connector-angle polished connector that is attached to an end of the single-fiber input cable; and   an adaptor that couples the first subscriber connector-angle polished connector to the second subscriber connector-angle polished connector to provide an optical pathway from the feeder optical fiber cable to the single-fiber input cable.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a panel for parking the first mechanical transfer-angle polished connector.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the splitter module includes one of:
 a splitter module that includes fiber loop slack;   a splitter module that does not include fiber loop slack; or   a splitter module that is removable from the slot and the device.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an area, located at a top or side of the device, that retains a connection between the feeder optical fiber cable and the single-fiber input cable.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-fiber distribution cable includes optical fibers that are routed within a multiple dwelling unit to a fiber access terminal. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-fiber output cable includes a ribbon cable. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a Underwriter Laboratory (UL) listed enclosure. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 routing, into a device, a feeder optical fiber cable that carries an input signal;   routing, into the device, a multi-fiber distribution cable that is to carry a plurality of output signals;   inserting a splitter module into a slot in the device, the splitter module including:
 a single-fiber input cable to receive the input signal; 
 an optical splitter to receive the input signal from the single-fiber input cable, split the input signal from the single-fiber input cable into a plurality of output signals, and transmit the plurality of output signals, and 
 a multi-fiber output cable that receives the plurality of output signals from the optical splitter; 
   connecting the feeder optical fiber cable to the single-fiber input cable; and   connecting the multi-fiber output cable to the multi-fiber distribution cable.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein connecting the multi-fiber output cable to the multi-fiber distribution cable includes:
 mating, via an adaptor plug, a first mechanical transfer-angle polished connector (MT-APC) attached to an end of the multi-fiber output cable and a second mechanical transfer-angle polished connector (MT-APC) attached to an end of the multi-fiber distribution cable.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 routing the multi-fiber output cable to a fiber distribution terminal; and   routing a drop cable from the fiber distribution terminal to a living unit.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein connecting the feeder optical fiber cable to the single-fiber input cable includes:
 mating, via a bulkhead adaptor, a first subscriber connector-angle polished connector (SC-APC) that is attached to an end of the feeder optical fiber cable and a second subscriber connector-angle polished connector (SC-APC) attached to an end of the single-fiber input cable.   
     
     
         20 . A device comprising:
 an enclosure, the enclosure including:   a feeder optical fiber cable that carries an input signal;   a splitter module configured to:
 receive the input signal from the feeder optical fiber cable, 
 split the input signal into a plurality of output signals, and 
 transmit each of the plurality of output signals via a multi-fiber ribbon cable; and 
   a multi-fiber distribution cable mated with the multi-fiber ribbon cable, the multi-fiber distribution cable relaying the plurality of output signals to a fiber access terminal.